Aaron Pico eyes dual boxing/MMA career but Bellator title first after body-shot TKO win

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Bellator featherweight Aaron Pico could be putting his body shots to use in the square circle sooner than you think.

After his second consecutive stoppage with the attack at Bellator 199, Pico (3-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) talked up an eventual move to pro boxing.

“I would love to get some boxing fights,” he told reporters backstage after a 70-second stoppage of Lee Morrison (19-9 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) on the Paramount-televised main card of Saturday’s event at SAP Center in San Jose.

Pico said he first strapped on the gloves at 10 or 11, and his original intention was to be a boxer, perhaps even punching a ticket to the Olympics. Although he earned several accolades in the square circle, including a Golden Gloves title in 2009, and had around 30 amateur fights, he decided to focus on wrestling and MMA.

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“It’s not a matter of, ‘Do I want to get boxing fights’ – I’m eventually going to get boxing bouts,” he said. “When I go into boxing, I’m not there to take it as a joke. I feel I’m capable of being a world champion in boxing.”

Pico cites his work at the famed Wild Card boxing gym with trainer Freddie Roach, in addition to his work as a sparring partner for ex-champ Miguel Cotto, as an example of his high pedigree in the striking art.

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Aaron Pico def. Lee Morrison at Bellator 199: Best photos

As to how he would manage a career in boxing while climbing the ranks of the Bellator featherweight division, Pico isn’t quite sure about the logistics.

“All parties will have to sit down at the table and figure out what we do,” he said. “That’s going to be a very tight schedule, but it’s nothing I’m not used to.”

Pico stresses that, first and foremost, his primary goal is to become the best MMA fighter he can be. He wants opponents that get him closer to the title. For now, boxing can wait.

“The year ahead is coming closer to ranked guys and winning the world championship,” he said. “People thought I was crazy when came into MMA and I said I don’t want to fight guys with losing records. But for me personally, fighting a guy that’s 2-4, or 1-3, and then hitting him with a body shot and knocking him out, just because I know I’m capable of doing it, I just wouldn’t feel good as a person. That’s not right. Because when I’m 26, it’s just going to be another day at the office. Those are my rules.”